Former Chiba Lotte Marines pitcher Yoshihiro Ito died yesterday morning in Fukuoka, Japan, when he was hit by a taxi while riding a motorcycle.
Ito, 43, won the Japan Series with the Marines in 2010, when he was on the mound to record the final out in Chiba’s 8-7, 12-inning win in Game 6 over the Chunichi Dragons. With the win, the Marines clinched the series four games to two and their second Japan Series title in six years, and Ito was jubilantly tossed in the air by his teammates.
In eight seasons in NPB, all with Chiba, Ito made 257 appearances, all in relief, throwing 272 1/3 innings with a 3.83 ERA, 249 strikeouts and 105 walks.
Following his NPB career, Ito returned to Fukuoka where he opened a pitching academy and served as head coach of Higashi Fukuoka, the team with whom he appeared at the summer Koshien Tournament as a high school sophomore, from 2020-25.
